What is the appropriate action when the nurse assesses an oral temperature of 94° F in a patient recovering from anesthesia?

When a patient has an oral temperature of 94° F after undergoing anesthesia, this indicates hypothermia, which is not an expected or normal reaction in the immediate post-anesthesia period. Patients can lose heat during surgery due to various factors, including exposure to cool operating room temperatures, and the effects of anesthesia on the body’s thermoregulatory mechanisms.

Covering the patient with a warm blanket is an appropriate action because it helps to conserve body heat and gradually raise the patient's core temperature to a normothermic state. This method also provides comfort and can contribute to a quicker and smoother recovery process. Maintaining normothermia is essential in surgical patients to prevent complications such as impaired wound healing or increased risk of infection.

In this context, other actions, such as merely offering warm fluids or notifying the charge nurse, may not be as effective in directly addressing the immediate concern of the low body temperature.